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NOV- 11, 1930. H. E. TROJAHN COIN CONTROLLED DRIVE FOR FARE REGISTERS Filed April 19, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet l Nov. 11, 1930.

H. E. TROJAHN COIN CONTROLLED DRIVE-FOR FARE REGISTERS Filed April 19, 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 ra 'am j! IVe/'maiz f y @www www.)

Nov. 11, 1930. H. E. TROJAHN 1,781,353

COIN GONTROLLED DRIVE FOR FARE REGISTERS,

' Filed April 19., 1927 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 66 Eff-f T1 .record ismade of all support.

ron the part of the busman or conductor and .the

Patented Nov. 11, 1930 l PATENT OFFICE HERMANE. TKROJAI-IN, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI COIN-CONTROLLER) DRIVE FOR FARE REGISTERS Application filed April' 19,

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in 'fare registers of the type usedon busses and street cars. This type of .register comprises a compara-tively small device capable of being carried in one hand by the busman or conductor and provided at one end with a receiving slot into which the proper coin is inserted by the passenger while the opposite end terminates in a suitable opening through which the coin is ejected after passing through the device. The coin upon being inserted into the slot is gripped by suitablemechanism, which isl then automatically operated and causes said coin to traverse said device. During the passage of the coin through thel mechanism a suitable registering means is actuated so that accurate coins received bythe device. .Y

The coin receiving and ejecting mechanism is reset after each operation by a plunger arranged so that it may-be'conveniently operated by the operator.V

In many instances, particularly on street cars, it is desirable to have the register stationarily mounted so that the fare may be deposited by the apassengers as they pass the register.

To this end a suitable stand or support is provided for detachably receiving the register, and plunger operating means are arranged in said support for resetting the register after the deposit of each coin.

The present practice is to operate said resetting means manually by the operator by means of a handle pivotally mounted on said rlhis requires Aconstant attention is impractical as the resetting of the register is dependent upon the manual operation after Veach insertion of the coin.

The present invention has for its object the provision of means for automatically op-l erating the register attereach insertion of coin, thereby relieving the operator from the necessity of manually actuating the regis.- ter and enabling him to make cha-nge, issue transfers, and perform other duties.

Other objects of the invention are to provide a motor drive'for actuating said regis- 1927. seriai No. 184,880.

ter and to provide means foreftecting the operating connection between said register and said motor drive so that said register shall be operated only at predetermined time relative to the reception ot' the coin by the register. A

Further objects ot the invention are to provide electro-responsive means for controlling the motor drive ot the register resetting means, and to provide an energizing electric circuit for said electro-responsive means, said circuit being controlled by the coin deposited in the register whereby said electro-responsive means are energized and cause the actuation otsaid register resetting vmeans by said motor drive automatically after each registering operation.

AStill further objects'of the invention are to `connect the terminals oi" to a pair of spaced contacts, insulated from each other and arranged in the path of the coin after the ejection of the latter from the register whereby such coin during its disl n u I n invention consists in certain novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter more fully described and claimed, and illustrated inthe accompanying drawings, in-which- Figure l is a side elevational view of the register support showing parts thereof in cross section and with the register mounted in said support. v

Figure 2is a vertical cross section through the device taken at right angles to Figure l.

the energizing I electric circuit or an electro-responsive means Figure 3 is an enlarged sectional detail view taken vertically through the supp ort and fnally through the worm .gear 'and the clutching mechanism." i y Figure 9 is a fragmental'detail view showing thel clutching mechanism in driving en gagement' 'with the worm gear.

The present invention isillustrated and Hdescribed as'bei'ng used in conjunction with the well-known type 'of fare registers, but it is obvious that Vother forms of registers or other mechanisms may be reset or operated by my improved coin controlled motor drive.

Referring by numerals to the accompany-y `ing drawings, 10 indicates a fare register having one end V11 adapted to receive a coin through a suitable v'sl-ot formed therein and provided-'at the opposite end 12 with a downwardly opening pocket 14 into whichV the coin is ejecte'd'by theregister. The coin receiving and ejec'ting mechanism (not shown) 'is reset after-each operation by a plunger lowhich projects outwardly fromtheregisterand terminates in an enlargement 16 whichfis ladaptedV to be manually operated'to reset the register mechanism End 12 is provided with a'suitable perforate handle 'i7 by means 'of which the registe'r'can bel conveniently'car- 'ried by the operator.V

VVhefn register 10 is stationarily mounted, a stand 18 is provided at a place convenient to the passengers and the operator. This stand comprises a support 19 having parallel vertically 'disposed side walls 2O connected at their ends by a topwall 2l terminating in a reduced extension 2ll and by'a bottom wall Q2, having a. threaded opening 22a formed Sthe'r'ein. 'tubular member Q4 is` 'screw'- threaded at its upper vend intosaid opening 22a "and at its lower end into an opening formed in a -ta'ble or 'shelf 25. A jalinb nut 25 isv used to `lockt supportV 1.9"agains't iiiovemerit oninei'nb'er'24.y I f Y erasing arseifves to, enclose supp-oit 1 9 and is provided at one side with fanopening 27a throughwhich the discharge 'or handle end '12 `may be inserted yin't'o said 'casing Vand into an opening iaeform'ed by-said walls.

When the "register 10 s'in positie'nin'A sup:

port 19" the enlarg'ementl off'pli'in'gerk 15 i'e'rldisposeu beloiv'f a1-15d vin' operative relation with a horizontally disposed roller 28, the ends of which project outwardly through inclined slots 29 formed in said walls 20 and are secured to the upper ends of vertically disposed links 30. The latter are arranged on each side of wall 2O and the lower ends of said links are fixed to the ends of a horizontally dispose-d rod 3l which extends transversely of support 19 and has its'ends projecting outwardly through vertically disposed slots 32 Vformedin said walls. Engaging rod 31 is the upper end of a connecting rod 3 4, which latter extends downwardly through tubular member 24 and has its lower end'pivotally and eccentrically connect-ed as at 34,a to a disk vor cam 35. y i

Thisdi'sk isjtixed to the projecting end of a shaft 3'6 which latter is journale'd inLgear housing 37. This housing is iiXe'd to thejundersideof table andcontainsa worm gear 38 which is loosely arranged on shaft 56 and a worm 39 which is in Vmesh with saidV gear 38 and is operatively connected by a clutch 40 to V'an electric motor.l or other prime moer 4i 4The driving ,connection vbetween worm 38 and shaft 86 is efiected'bya clutchingmechan'isin 42 which is arranged on'rsaid 'shaft and cooperates with the inner, annular face 38a ofV gear 38.Y This clutching nie'clia- Vnisi'n includes a spider 44 yfixed to the as :at 43 and arranged within said gear; 38,.sai' d spider Vhafing vradially projecting arms AApair of disks 45 and' 46 are loosely disposed on. each side of saidspider `and are secured together by a series of pins 47 which extend Vtransverselythrough thet 'notches 44b formed by said arms 44a. Disk 46 which is located exteriorly of gear o8 is provided'with av peripheral shoulderV 4G?MV presented in the direction otrotation of gearBS and adapted `to bje engagedb'y a vertically movable stop pin 48 which when in position holds said disksf45 and 46 against rotation, A roller 49 hav-ing trunnions is ireely disposed in feach notch i4-band operates between the eccentrically disposed bottoin44C of each notch and the inner face of the flange 'of ringBS. Bearing against each "roller 49 isa spring-pressed pin 50 'which is disposed in each `arml 44a tangentially to the shaftr 36 and yieldinglyiforces said roller towalflV thehigh port-ion of the eccentric bottom. Y Y

TDisk 46 'and sp ler 44are yieldingly held in Y intereiigageinent a coiledV springY 5l 'connectedat end to, pin '52' el disk 46..'and at the opposite end Vto a pin 54 of spider 44'which pin projects outwardly through a'fslot '55 2tcurfifed in disk .46. 'This v spring :forms a ,Lyieldinglconnection between ythe 'conjoined 'disks 46, and shaft 36 ting mov' nent "of the respectivep'artsrel ollers 49 toeiig r-y .l i i-.15,... engagiiwrpnositions between said spider and il l5 y ce gear 38. The trunnions 49a of rollers 49 project into arcuate slots 45b and 46b of the respective disks 45 and 46 so that said rollers are restricted in their arcuate movements but are free to move in radial directions.`

lVhen stop pin 48 occupies interengaged position with shoulder 46a as shown in Figure 6, spider 44 is so positioned that rollers 49 are disengaged from gear 38. When however, stop pin 48 is moved upwardly outV of engagement with shoulder 46a the conjoined disks 45 and 46 are released against rotation and are moved, under the influence of spring 51, forwardly, thereby bringing rollers 49 against the high portions of eccentric bottoms l .44C and interlocking spider 44 with gear 38 so that shaft 36 is set in operation and actuates disk 35. Disk 35 is provided with a shoulder 35a disposed oppositely with respect to shoulder 46a of disk 46, and adapted to engage said shoulder 35EL is a pawl 56 which is pivotally arranged on gear housing 37 and is held against disk 35 by a spring 57. Thus when the device reaches home position, pawl 56 drops against shoulder 35El and locks the part-s fixed to shaft 36 against rotation in reverse direction. This positions spider 44 slightly forward of disk 46 with pin 54 occupying vintermediate position with slot and rollers 49 occupying low points of notches 44b as shown .in Figures 6 andV 7. Stop pin 48 is 4Voperatively carried by one end of a lever 58 which is pivotally mounted at 59 and has its opposite end carrying an armature 60; A spring 58a i'sconneeted to lever58 and has tendency to kmaintain stop pin 48 against disk 46. Armature'60 cooperates with an electroresponsive means, such as an electromagnet 61, which isadapted to be energized by an electric circuit 62 through a source ot' electric current 64 arranged in said circuit. This circuit can be manually opened and closed by means of a manually operated switch 65 and the terminals of said Circuit are connected to a pair of spaced contacts 66 which are insulated `from each other and are contained 4in a coin discharge passage 67 formed in a. chute 68. The latter is formed of insulating material and is disposed in a chamber 69 formed in support 19 andfextending in opposite direction from register 10. The Yupper end of insulating member 68 is provided with a flaredeut mouth 67zl which is disposed immediately below a pocket 14 while the discharge end 67b oi saidpassage 67 opens into a receiving chamber 70 formed in extension 71 by means of a trap door 72. Extension 71 is provided f f'ith a window 74'throu0'h which the coin deposited in chamber 70 may be observed..

The coin upon beingejected from registerlO through pocket 14 drops into the pase sage 67, where it assumes flat posit-ien due to the fact that said passage 67 is tei-filed sont paratively shallow andprevents said ceinfrom rolling down Vsaid passage edgewise.

Thus said coin is disposed atwise and in sliding down said passage comes into engagement with both contact members 66, thereby closing the circuit 62 and energizing electro-magnet 61. The energization of electro-magnet 61 attracts armature 60 and causes stop pin 48 to be moved upwardly out of engagement with. the shouldered portion 46a of disk 46 so that the latter is allowed to bring the rollers 49 into interlocking engagement with gear 38 and spider 44, thereby setting in operation the resetting means andrestoring the register in readiness for the next coin registering operation. f

In order to prevent too rapid discharge of the coin through the passagef67 and the con'- sequent opening of the circuit before stop pin 48 has been moved into released posi` tion, a gate 75 is arranged in support 19 and slidably extends transversely into pas` sage 67 so as to arrest the coin in its travel and cause it to come to rest while in en` gagement with contacts 66. This gate which is preferably formed of insulating materia-l so as not to affect the contaetsv66 extends into the interior formed by walls 2O and has a slot and pin connection with oneend of a bell crank 76 which is pivotally mounted at 77 and has its other end operatively connected with connecting rod 34. Thus as soon as the resetting means is set in operation by the closing of circuit 62 and connecting rod 34 is moved downwardly, bell crank 76 isV operated, causing gate 75 to be retracted from passage 67, thereby releasing the coin so that the latter can continue in its travel through passage 67 and be discharged into compartment 70. Trapdoor 72 is adapted to be actuated through suitable means 78 by the lower end of one of the links 30 so that said door is opened and the coin deposited in the lower chamber 70a from which the coins may be removed in opening spring-pressed door 79.

The roller 28 is so disposed thatregister 10 may be readily moved-into and outof position in support 19. As the driving connection is not elected until aft-er the coin has been ejected from the register, all danger of injury to the register, caused by the forcible operation of the plungerwhen the registering mechanism is locked, is thereby eliminated and if the register mechanism is locked the coin will be retained in the register and the resetting means ycannot be operated. The clutch 4() provides safety means :tor releasing the motor from the resetting means in case the latter is renderedinoperative. f

My vimproved coin control drive is of simple construction, can be readily attached to existing forms of registers, and supports for same, and is entirely automatic in operation so that no attention 'on the 'part of the operator is required.

While I have described the device for use With coins, it Will be readily understood that metallic fares, such as tokens new Widelyusedon street cars, can be equally as Well used Without necessitating any structural changes in the device.

VThe electrical control herein described and illustrated can be used for actuating vvarious other forms of registering devices. rlhe electric motor 41, Which in the present instance is used as the prime actuator, is preferably operated continuously While the register is used and only the clutching mechanism is controlled by the electric circuit, This eliminates Wear and tear on the mctordue to frequent starting and insures quick operation. Any suitable source of electrical current can be used in connection With the 'energizing circuit; it maybe supplied either lter, means for resetting the same, a prime mover for said resetting means, a clutching V` mechanism interl'josedbetiveen said resetting means and said prime mover, means torner- 'mally disengagingsaid clutching mechanism,- anl electro-responsive means terv actuating, vvhen energized, said Vdi'seiigaging means to release said clutching"means,` an

electric circuitforfenergizing said electro-responsive means, apair of spaced-terminal contacts interposed in said circuitsaid con- Vtacts `being insulated from eachy otherfand adapted to be interconnected by a coin discharged by said -register to cause the completion of saidV circuit, whereby saidreg'ster is operatedby said 'actuating'.meansupon ldischarge of said coin. i

' 2. A coin" controlled fareregistering device comprising in combination With a' register, a chute or'receivingtlie faire discharged. by said register, means i'oijresetting 'said register after the` discharge off-coin therefrom, Va prime mover forv said resetting means, a

' clutching mechanism interposed between said resetting means and said prime mover, means for automatically disconnectingv said clutching' mechanism after eaclrcycl'eof operation, an electro-responsive means forvdisplacing Vsaid disconnecting 'means and releasing said clutching mecl-ianism, an electric circuit vfor A controlling: said 'e1cetro':respon-V sive means, a pair of spaced terminal "contacts interposed in'sai'd circuit and located in said chute in the path of the-discharged fare,

ing element in positive engagement With said prime mover, a driven element iiXed to said shaft, and means for interengaging said elements `and' normally spring-held in disengaged position, a displaceable member inengagement with said element engaging'means, a spring connected'to said member for bringing said vmeans inte element engagingpositions; a stop member for engaging said .displaceable vmember and locking the latter against the influence of said spring, an electro-'responsive means for moving said stop member out of engagement With said displaceable member whereby 'said clutching sive means, a pair of spaced terminal contacts arranged in insulated relation in said chute and disposed iii the pathof a coin deposited therein,'whereby said. circuit is comi pleted by the interengagementlof said coi-n with saidV contacts and said driving mechanism is rendered active, and a member rarranged in vsaid chute in` the path of said coin for temporarily arresting the movement hereofl While 'in engagementwvith said terminal contacts and movable to release said cein after'the energization o'fsaid electroresponsive means. l y t f Y 4f, A coin controlled driving mechanism for' fare registering devices comprising in combination with register resetting means and driving means for "said resetting means, of a chute for receiving a Jrare after its ejection from the register, a clutchingmechanisin interposed between saidfV resettingA means and said driving `inea-ns, a stop member for disengaging said clutch mechanism, electro-responsivemeans for operating said stop member to release Asaid clutch mechanism,

Van energizingelectric Vcircuit for saidelectroresponsive means, and a pair of contacts in said chute and insulated from each other and interposedV in said circuit for-normally maintaining said circuit open, said contacts being ladaptedto be engaged by the metallic fare deposited in saidchute, therebyclosing said circuit andenergizingsaid electro-responsive means. Y Y

5.y A coin controlled driving mechanism for ffare registeringdevices comprising in mechanism is rendered operative, an energizing electric circuit for saidV electro-respoii-v ico combination with a fare register, register resetting means, and driving means for said resetting means, of a chute for receiving a fare after its ejection from said register, a clutching mechanism interposed between said resetting means and said driving means, a stop member for disengaging said clutching mechanism, electro-responsive means for operating said stop member, an energizing electric circuit for said electro-responsive means, a pair of spaced contacts disposed in said chute and insulated from each other, said contacts being interposed in said circuit for normally maintaining said circuit open, and being adapted to be engaged by a metallic fare during its passage through said chute, thereby closing said circuit and energizing said electro-responsive means, and a member movable within said chute into the path of said metallic fare for temporarily arresting the movement thereof while in engagement with said contacts.

6. In a metallic fare registering device, the combination with a registering mechanism having a resetting plunger, of means for actuating said plunger, driving means for said actuatingmeans,a clutching mechanism interposed between said actuating means and said driving means and including a revoluble member provided with a radially disposed shoulder, a stop member cooperating with said revoluble member and adapted to engage the Y shoulder thereof for rendering said clutching means inoperative, a spring for maintaining said stop member in engagement with said revoluble'member, electro-responsive means for moving said stop member out of engagement with said revoluble member, thereby rendering said clutching mechanism effective, an energizing electric circuit for said electro-responsive means, and a pair of terminal contacts arranged in said circuit, said contacts being insulated from cach other and adapted to be engaged and complete said circuit by a metallic fare passing over said contacts.

7. A coin controlled device for fare registering devices comprising in combination with register resetting means and driving means for said resetting means, of a clutching mechanism interposed between said resetting means and said driving means, a member for disengaging said clutch mechanism, electro-responsive means for operating said disengaging member, an energizing electric circuit for said electro-responsive means, a pair of contacts insulated from each other and interposed in said circuit for normally maintaining said circuit open, said contacts being adapted to be engaged'by a metallic fare after its'ejection from said registering device, therebyclosing said circuit and energizing said electro-responsive means, a member movable into the path ofsaid metallic fare for temporarily arresting the movement thereof while in engagement with said contacts, means for actuating said fare arresting member, and a spring for bringing said disengaging member into engagement with said clutching means to disengage the operative connection between said driving means and said resetting means.

8. In a metallic fare registering device, the combination with a registering mechanism, of means for resetting the same, driving means for said resetting means, a clutching mechanism interposed between said resetting means and said driving means, a stop member cooperating with said clutching means for disengaging the operative connection between said driving means and said resetting means, an operating member for actuating said stop member, electro-responsive means actuating said operating member for moving said stop member out of engagement with said clutching means, an energizing electric circuit for said electro-responsive means, a pair of terminal contacts arranged in said circuit, said contacts being insulated from each other and adapted to be engaged and complete said circuit by a metallic fare passing over said contacts, and a gate member movable upwardly above the top plates of said contacts for arresting said metallic fare while in engagement with said contacts.

9. ln a metallic fare registering device, the combination with a registering mechanism, of means for resetting the same, driving means for said resetting means, a clutching mechanism interposed between said resetting means and said driving means, a stop member cooperating with said clutching means for controlling the operative connection between said driving means and said resetting means, an operating member for actuating said stop member, electro-responsive means actuating said operating member for moving said stop member out of engagement with said clutching means, an energizing electric circuit for said electro-responsive means, a pairof terminal contacts arranged in said circuit, said contacts being insulated from each other and adapted to be engaged and complete said circuit by a metallic fare passing over said contacts, a gate member movable upwardly transversely of said contacts into the path of travel of said metallic fare for temporarily retaining the latter in electrical Contact with said contacts, and a lever operable by said resetting means for actuating said gate member.

lO. In a fare registering device, the combination. with a fare register having a resetting plunger, of means for actuating said plunger and including a pair of reciprocable spaced bars and a rod extending between the upper ends of said bars and engaging said plunger, a revoluble shaft, and a link operatively connecting one end of said shaft with the lower ends of said bars; driving means for actuating said member, driving mechanism for said actuating means and including a clutch mechanism anda stop member cooperating with said clutch mechanism and normally occupying a position for rendering said clutch mechanism inoperative; electro-responsive means for displacing said stop member so as to release said clutch mechanism, a circuit for energizing said electro-responsive means and including a pair of spaced terminal contacts; means for conveying the coin discharged from said register over said contacts to complete said circuit so as to release said clutch mechanism and render said device operative for resetting said register, and means operable in conjunction with said actuating means for temporarily retaining said coin in engagement with said contacts, said retaining means being operable to release said coin during the operation of said actuating means.

16. In a coin registering device, the combination With a coin register adapted to receive and register a coin and then discharge it, of a support for supporting said register, a member reciprocably mounted in said support for resetting said register, a revoluble shaft, a connecting link operatively associated With one end of said shaft for actuating said reciprocable member, driving means for actuating said shai't, said driving means including a clutch, a stop member cooperating With said clutch for normally holding said clutch in disengaged position, electro responsive means for displacing said stop member so as to render said clutch operative and complete the driving connection between said driving means and said reciprocable member, a circuit for energizing said electroresponsive means, a coin chute disposed in said support and having one end arranged adjacent to the discharge end of said register to receive the coin discharged thereby, a pair of spaced contacts arranged in said chute forming the terminals of said circuits whereby the coin during its passage through said chute completes said circuit, thereby energizing said electro-responsive means and rendering said clutch operative for resetting said coin register.

In testimony whereof I hereunto affix my signature this 14th day of April, 1927.

HERMAN E. TROJAHN. 

